Title: Petition of Lucinda S. Matthews, 30 June 1862
Date: June 30, 1862
Source Text: A microfilm reproduction of the original document held at the National Archives and Records Administration, Microcopy 520, Reel 5. The original document is held in the Records of the Accounting Officers of the Department of the Treasury, 1775–1978, National Archives and Records Administration, Record Group 217.6.5. Within the National Archives' Archival Description Catalog, see ARC Identifier 4644616 / MLR Number A1 347 (http://arcweb.archives.gov).
Civil War Washington ID: cww.00800
TEI/XML: cww.00800.xml
PETITION.
To the Commissioners under the act of Congress approved the 16th of April, 1862, entitled "An act for the release of certain persons held to service or labor in the District of Columbia."
Your Petitioner, Lucinda S. Matthews of Washington County D.C. by this her petition in writing, represents and states, that she is a person loyal to the United States, who, at the time of the passage of the said act of Congress, held a claim to service or labor against four persons of African descent of the names of Susan Jackson Ann Jackson Matilda Miller Frederick Atkinson for and during the life of said Susan, Ann, Matilda & Frederick respectively and that by said act of Congress said persons were was discharged and freed of and from all claim of your petitioner to such service or labor; that at the time of said discharge said persons were of—and of the personal descriptions following:(1)
- Susan Jackson aged seventy years; tall & stout, of a dark colour—
- Ann Jackson aged Twenty one years; rather small, stout, in colour a bright mulatto—
- Matilda Miller aged about fifty years; tall and in colour a bright mulatto.
- Frederick Atkinson aged Twenty eight years; well made, very black—ordinary height
That your petitioner acquired her claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said persons in manner following:(2) Susan Jackson was given to your petitioner and her late Husband Henry C Matthews of said County & District deceased, by her Father John S. H[aw?] late of said District deceased, in the year 1821.
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said persons was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of Three thousand four Hundred dollars in money.(3)Susan Jackson has been your petitioners cook for the past Forty years, and although some what affected by age still performs the duties of cook, with a diligence commendable in the highest degree, and only equalled by her faithfulness to those whom she has served for almost half a century. Matilda Miller has been the nurse of all my children, and is now my house servant & seamstress, and is a servant of well-known efficiency.
Your petitioner hereby declares that she bears true and faithful allegiance to the Government of the United States, and that she has not borne arms against the United States in the present rebellion, nor in any way given aid or comfort thereto.
And your petitioner further states and alleges, that she has not brought said persons into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said persons was held to service or labor therein under and by virtue of your petitioner's claim to such service or labor.
Your petitioner further states and alleges, that her said claim to the service or labor of said persons does not originate in or by virtue of any transfer heretofore made by any person who has in any manner aided or sustained the present rebellion against the Government of the United States.
And your petitioner prays the said Commissioners to investigate and determine the validity of her said claim to the service or labor of said persons herein above set forth; and if the same be found to be valid, that they appraise and apportion the value of said claim in money, and report the same to the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States, in conformity to the provisions of said act of Congress.
Lucinda S Matthews
The undersigned Heirs at Law and residuary legatees of Henry C. Matthews late of the District of Columbia deceased do hereby assent to all and singular the matters, & things set forth and contained in a petition under "the act entitled an act for the release of certain persons held to service or labour in the District of Columbia" approved April 16th 1862, signed by Lucinda S. Matthews Executrix of said Henry C. Matthews, deceased, and now on file in the office of the Commissioners under the act aforesaid, and do hereby pray said Commissioners that this their assent may be annexed to said petition, and that they may be made parties claimant therein, intending that all the statements and [illegible] therein made, shall be as binding upon them as if their several names were thereto subscribed, as witness their hands and seals this thirtieth day of October in the year eighteen hundred and sixty-two.
Thomas H. Matthews seal
Alex Matthews seal
Before me John F. Kemp, a Justice of the Peace for the County & State aforesaid personally appeared Alexander Matthews & Thomas H. Matthews, who are Known to me, & made oath on the Holy Evangely of almighty God, that the several matters and things set forth & stated in the petition aforesaid, (and of which they declare themselves to be cognizant) as of their own Knowledge & belief are true as stated; and that the several matters & things therein stated or derived from the Knowledge and information of others are true to the best of their Knowledge & belief.
Given under my name and seal this thirtieth day of October in the year eighteen Hundred and sixty two.
John F. Kemp. seal
Justice of the Peace.
TALBOT COUNTY, Sct.
I HEREBY CERTIFY that John F Kemp Esquire, before whom the annexed Affidavit was made, and who has thereto subscribed his name, was at the time of so doing a Justice of the Peace of the State of Maryland, in and for Talbot County, duly commissioned and sworn.
In Testimony Whereof, I hereto set my hand and affix the seal of the Circuit Court for Talbot County, this 31st day of October A. D. 18 62
Saml J. Hopkins
from
Mary Chapman
to
H C Matthews
Know all men by these presents that I Mary Chapman of George Town in the District of Columbia, Administratrix of all and singular the goods and chattles rights and credits which were of Henry H Chapman at the time of his death, for & in consideration of the sum of Two hundred & seventy six dollars to me in hand paid by Henry C Matthews of the Town of District aforesaid at or before the sealing & delivery of these presents to the receipt whereof I the said Mary Chapman do hereby acknowledge, have granted bargained and sold and by these presents do grant bargain and sell unto the said Henry C Matthews his executors administrators and assigns a certain mulatto girl slave named Matilda which said negro girl was sold by me the said Mary Chapman Administratrix as aforesaid to the said Henry C Matthews on the Eighteenth day of September 1822 then supposed to be about twelve years of age for the aforesaid sum of Two hundred & seventy six dollars, and has even since been in his possession
To have and to hold the said mulatto girl slave named Matilda above bargained and sold to the said Henry C Matthews his executors administrators and assigns forever against myself administratrix as aforesaid and against all and every person of persons of whatsoever, claiming or to claim the same—In witness whereof I have hereto subscribed my name and affixed my seal this third day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty eight—
Mary Chapman seal
Witness
[Rob Getty?]
Be it remembered that on this third day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty eight personally appears Mary Chapman party grantor mentioned in this foregoing instrument of writing before me the subscriber a Justice of the Peace for the County aforesaid and acknowledged the said instrument of writing to be her act and deed, and the mulatto girl slave therein mentioned and thereby bargained and sold to be the right and estate of Henry C Matthews party grantee, also therein mentioned his heirs and assigns forever—
Rob Getty J Peace
The word "sight" [was interlined?] before the signing and delivery of this bill of sale
Rob Getty
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, Lucinda S Matthews being duly sworn, do depose and say, that all the several matters and things which are set forth and stated in the foregoing petition, as of my own knowledge, are true in substance and in fact; and that all the several other matters and things therein set forth and stated, as from the information of others, I believe to be true in substance and in fact.
Lucinda S Matthews
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 30th day of June A. D. 1862.
Robert White seal
J. Peace
of
Lucinda S. Matthews
under
Emancipation Act.
Note (1.)-- Here describe the person, so as to identify him or her; and if there be more than one slave, describe each one separately.
Note (2.)-- Here state how the claim was acquired, when, from whom, and for what price or consideration; and, if held under any written evidence of title, make exhibit thereof, or refer to the public record where the same may be found.
Note (3.)-- Here state such facts, if any there be, touching the value of the petitioner's claim to the service or labor of the person, as may enhance the same, and also such facts, if any, touching the moral, mental, and bodily infirmities or defects of said person, as impair the value of the petitioner's claim to such service or labor, and conclude such statement with an averment that the petitioner knows of no other infirmities or defects of said person which impair the value of petitioner's claim to such service or labor, and that he believes none other to exist. If the petitioner specify no such infirmity or defect, then his statement touching the value of his claim should conclude with an averment that he has no knowledge of any such infirmity or defect.
